UAB Staff, Students Celebrate UAB's 50th With 50 Acts Of Service

BIRMINGHAM, AL — The University of Alabama at Birmingham has spent 2019 celebrating its 50th anniversary, and have done so in a variety of ways. One of those methods has been to get involved in Birmingham-area charity organizations.

UAB schools and divisions across campus are honoring the partnership with the Magic City through 50 Acts of Service.

"The 50 Acts of Service supports our university’s strategic plan, Forging the Future, and the community engagement reinforces the love our university has for the community we live in," said Lisa Higginbotham, Benevolent Fund manager. "As we look back over the last 50 years, the service and impact we have had on the Birmingham community have and will continue to change the lives of those who live, work and play here."

Service events range from UAB’s annual toy drive, Gift of Sight and Dentistry Cares to educational programs in the community, a Habitat for Humanity house build, clothing drives, hunger initiatives, student service learning projects and beautification projects.

The 50 Acts of Service campaign kicked off in January with faculty, staff and students volunteering more than 1,400 hours during the annual MLK Day of Service through UAB Student Affairs. The student-led event honors the memory of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. through various volunteer activities served in the Birmingham community. Locations include the Railroad Park, The Red Barn, South H Rehab, Birmingham Nursing and Rehab, The Birmingham Education Foundation, Vulcan Park and Museum, neighborhood cleanups in Glen Iris, Docena, Bush Hills and Greater Shiloh, Bush Hills Community Garden, Red Mountain Park, SIMS Ecoscape, UAB Sustainability, and more.

In July, the UAB Benevolent Fund hosted a beautification project with Birmingham City Schools. A group of 95 volunteers worked for 285 hours to help nine different schools with chores to help clean and improve classroom spaces.

On Wednesday, Nov. 20, at noon, UAB will dedicate its sixth Habitat for Humanity home. This year’s home culminates the work of more than 450 volunteers from UAB and more than 3,650 work hours from The Kirklin Clinic and UAB Benevolent Fund contributors.